Having made her mark in television, theater, and social justice, Shonda Rhimes is now set to conquer the podcast game. Deadline reports the mogul is executive producing a slate of podcasts for Shondaland Audio, the company she formed in partnership with iHeartMedia.
Shondaland Audio projects will be distributed via the iHeartPodcast Network. “The agreement includes a full slate of iHeartRadio Original Podcasts set to release over the next three years,” the source details. Rhimes will oversee development, while Sandie Bailey will serve as Chief Digital and Design Officer.
“Podcasting continues to see tremendous growth and I’m excited to partner with iHeartMedia as Shondaland expands its storytelling journey into this medium which has seemed to usher in a unique sense of boldness, intimacy, and connection,” Rhimes stated. “With iHeartMedia we aim to share stories that are engaging, insightful, and reflect a robust world-view while staying true to the authentic storytelling voice that has become synonymous with Shondaland.”
Shondaland Audio’s slate will include new episodes of “Katie’s Crib,” the podcast Rhimes developed with “Scandal” star Katie Lowes in 2017. Hosted by Lowes, the shows features candid conversations with guests about the ups and downs of new motherhood.
Rhimes created TV’s longest-running medical drama, “Grey’s Anatomy,” which is now airing its 16th season Thursdays on ABC. She exec produces “How to Get Away with Murder” and “Grey’s” spinoff “Station 19.” The Time’s Up supporter’s upcoming projects include a series based on Jessica Pressler’s New York Magazine feature about con artist/phony socialite Anna Delvey, developed as part of her multi-year deal with Netflix.
Comedy agent Priyanka Mattoo and performers Maria Blasucci (“Mascots”) and Amanda Lund (“Fresh Off the Boat”) launched Earios, a podcast network of exclusively women-made shows, this past summer. Margaret Cho, writer-director and “GLOW” actress Kimmy Gatewood, and “Love” co-creator Lesley Arfin are among Earios’ podcast hosts.